Is this a new record - quickest time from PPL to A320 captain to CEO???

[Anti Skid On]

(Sorry if this is more of a question Danny et. al.)

Found this whilst browsing the recruitment section of the Gulf Air Website <a href="http://www.gulfairco.com/about/profile.asp" target="_blank">link here</a>
"Ibrahim AlHamer was born in Bahrain in December 1952. He joined the Bahrain Government in 1973 and worked for many years in various ministerial departments. In 1983, after obtaining previous academic qualifications, he gained his Masters Degree in Public Administration, majoring in Public Finance and Budgeting, from the USA, and was appointed Assistant Under Secretary for Financial Planning and Budgeting in the Bahrain Ministry of Finance and National Economy, from where he was promoted in 1991 to Civil Aviation Affairs.

A keen pilot, Mr. AlHamer began his training in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1995 to fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot. This progressed from achieving his Private Pilot Licence until he obtained the FAA Commercial Pilot Licence. Since then he has flown continuously with Gulf Air and is now a fully qualified Airbus A 320 Captain."

So let me get this - starts PPL in 1995, then does FAA CPL and then becomes A320 captain, and now, less than 7 years later (albeit after a very successful public career) is in charge of an airline.

How come this has never happened to me AND how did he get to have a job as an A320 captain with what seems so little experience (also quite a late starter).

Anyone like to comment

[Confirmed Must Ride]

The words 'money', 'changed' and 'hands' come to mind.

[sirwa69]

Although he was the Under Secretary for Civil Aviation, he was still only a first officer when he was made CEO of Gulf Air. It was thought that it didn't look right having a FO as CEO of the airline so he was made a Captain (virtually an honorary thing as he has to fly with a training captain.) Money didn't change hands, it didn't need to.
Incidently he is held in high regard for his management ability and apparently he is not a bad pilot either. (Remember everything is relative) <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[newswatcher]

Hmmmm, Gulf Air site clearly states that he is "....a fully qualified Airbus A 320 Captain".

Guess that his career path will prove quicker than the publishing of the report on Flight 072!

[flyblue]

Hey! Do you really mean that this guy has been chosen because of his personal skills and habilities? Thus violating the first rule of Civil Aviation Management?
Naaah!

[Greg Baddeley]

Well, it does say he's flown continuously for Gulf Air since 1995; so at 24x365x7, that makes over 60,000 hours! Pretty impressive really, although it doesn't leave much time for R & R with the F/A's :) :) :) :)

[Kalium Chloride]

The words "grapes" and "sour" seem to be pretty abundant too. :)

[Notso Fantastic]

Was this the airline that couldn't do a pre-landing orbit at BAH without landing halfway around the orbit.......into the sea?

[bow5]

Confirmed Must Ride, genius, absolute genius. :) :)

[2high]

So whats the gripe: I know of a fellow that could drive quite well and he has his own airline!!

[jammers]

Being promoted at GF with lack of experience is a common occurence in this part of the world.....let's not forget about that chap from Abu Dhabi (royal family) who on his return from flight safety in the USA with his cpl multi/ir and 200 hrs. proceeded to get into the left seat of the B767 sim in Doha, apparently nobody had the courage to tell this "royal" that he would have to spend a little time in the right seat for awhile to "get the hang of things", hence an automatic promotion to GF capt....on any given evening the scheduled captain on a CDG flt. would be told he could stand down(with an hour to go to report time) as sheiky would be operating the flt.(his favorite run).....this would always inevitably lead to a mad scramble to find a suitable senior training capt. to fly with him...........at GF it's all about who you know and supply and demand when it comes to the left seat!!!!!

[Auto]

I agree with JAMMERS in Gulf Air is who you know and not what you know!! and other thing the new CEO tells his managers which SF/O should get command , thats why there is quite numbers of SF/O don't make it and these they have been in company for so many years with good training and sim cheks records and they have proved this while flying with them, actually some are very good but, got suprised when i had that they didn't make it.By the way Ibrahim Al Hammer did his flying in DOHA (QATAR) not in the USA.. Gulf Air record is WRONG! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[spekesoftly]

2high, the gentleman to which I think you refer, had his own Airline, but not anymore! Seems he's back in the (F1) driving seat again.

[eji]

I have a US friend that started in the ab-initio program with Singapore Airlines. After 6 years, he is now a 747-400 captain with Virgin. Singapore has some sort of agreement with Virgin and he was able to transfer.That's fast.

[Dallas Cowboy]

Latest rumour is that Hamer will be grounded for exceeding duty time limitations and not taking enough rest. There have also been several ga/missed approaches with him in command.

Seems he is doing more flying than the average GF capt and trying to run an airline at the same time.

[3000psi]

Is he one of this new "cruise pilot only" generation
trained down south in florida ?!?!?

[DownIn3Green]

Sounds like a parallel to the (in)famous Celtic Airways and their "Legend in his own mind" CEO our very own Gooberner...